Separator



Feb. l' 16, 1932. G. ROBERTSON SEPARATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1926 "ya larney Patented Feb. 16, 1932 Ui'rn sen 'aar

GEORGE ROBERTSON, QF BURLIGAME, CALIFORNIA snrnnaron Application filed September 18, 1926. Serial No. 136,274.

My invention relates to that class of separators in which a difference in the gravity coeiificient of the components of the aggregate is taken advantage of, under the influence of a fluid current, to effect a separation, byV diverting said components to different destinations.

The invention, while applicable to many materials, is especially intended for the cleantive exposure of the aggregate thereto that.

my invention appertains and in which it consists, asl shall now fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings 1n which l show a preferredA form of a separator embodying said invention, though it 1s to be understood that changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined inthe claims hereunto appended.

1n the drawings, l

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my separator.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a detail section showing a modification of the discharge end of the feed conduit. Y

1 is a casing housing or shell, through one end vof which protrudes the combined separating and grading member comprising the aligned and communicating open ended cylinders 2 and 3, the former lying within the shell and being interiorly provided with the 'lifting and agitating vanes 4; and the latter passing through the shell end, and being divided into a plurality of screen Zones of successively increasing mesh, each zone beingasso-ciated with its individual receiving hopper 5 having controlling gates 6. Lying above the screen grader is a Contact roll 7 to keep the meshes clear.

The combined separating Y and grading member has imparted to it a rotation upon its axis, and for this purpose the separating cylinder portion 2 is mounted peripherally upon rollers 8, and has'inotion transmitted to it vthrough va peripheral gear 9, a pinion 10, a

countershaft 11, a bevel gear 12 on the endof I said shaft, and a bevel gear 13 on the shaft 14, by'which power is led into the machine. i

1n the best disposition of the combined cylinders 42 and 3, a downward inclination is preferred as here shown, in order to facilitate the travel of the cleaned components towards their destinations, but-this inclination is not wholly essential, as other means, well known in the art, may effect the necessary advance."

Vlfvithout the shell 1, at the inner end of the .Figa 3, is a swinging discharge gate 19. rlfhe screw conveyer 18 is driven by a chain 20, indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines, from the inleading power shaft 111- to asprocket 21 on the conveyer shaft, Fig. 3.

Within the receiving chamber 16 isa depending ba'le 22 spaced from and opposing the inner end of the separating cylinder 2, the lower end of said baiiie terminating above `the hopper base 17 of saidchamber, and bey separating cylinder 2, thence down under the baffle 22 and up to the fan.

The aggregate or material to be separated is fed into the machine from a hopper 27, which communicates with a feed conduit 28 leading down into the interior of the separating cylinder 2. Vithin the conduit 28 is the screw conveyer 29, which is driven by a chain from a sprocket 3l on the conveyer shaft, to a sprocket 32 on the counter shaft ll.

The material to be separated, fills the feed conduit, so that no air passes through it. Said material, as shown by the shorter arrows, passes through the conduit and is delivered within the interior of the separating cylinder 2. In this cylinder it is picked up repeatedly by the vanes 4 and is spread out to expose it to the oppositely advancing air current. The lighter components are carried back by said current, as shown by the short arrows, and these components, emerging from the inner end of the cylinder 2, and

`meeting the baffle 22, drop down out of the current, into the hopper 17 and are discharged by the conveyer 18. The heavier particles of the aggregate pass on down and are graded in the cylinder 3 and suitably delivered.

As I have briefly intimated in stating hereinbefore the essential nature of my improvement, I have now to point out particularly in what manner and by what means the ob- Y ject sought is reached. It will be seen by reference to Fig. l, that the feed conduit 28 projects into the separating cylinder 2 a considerable distance and that by reason of its diameter it occupies a certain annular space in said cylinder. The effect of this is to contract the interior cross-sectional space of said cylinder in the Zone or region of its occupancy, and thus to increase th-e velocity of the air current. Manifestly such increased velocity is proportionate to the distance the feed conduit protrudes into the cylinder and to the diameter of said conduit relatively to the diameter of the cylinder.

Therefore, in the free front portion of the cylinder, the material is repeatedly carried around and spread out to meet the opposing air current, and the lighter particles are gradually and increasingly forced backwardly by the increased air velocity, thus tending to greater efficiency in separation, especially when relatively large quantities of worthless material are present.

The air suction of fan 25 is varied without varying the fan speed by operating dampers 25 and 26, one of which varies the area of suction inlet 26 and the other the area of an auxiliary air inlet in the suction pipe 26 above damper 26.

When treating certain materials, particularly that which is quite heavy and compact, the conduit 28 may be provided within its length with a cutout area 32, affording a discharge opening orifice through which the entire contents of the conduit passes into the cylinder 2.

To assure an air current of considerable velocity acting on the material within the cylinder 2, prior to its passing into the free front portion of the cylinder, a blind or closed extension 33 may be mounted on the conduit to close its end, it occupying an area in the cylinder corresponding to the conduit and extending for a distance beyond the normal length of the conduit.

l claim l. In combination with an apparatus for separating material having an inclined rotatable cylinder open at its upper end and having its lower end portion perforated and its upper end portion provided interiorly with vanes and provided with a blower for crea-ting an air current through said cylinder in a direction opposite to the flow of the material to be treated, and including a baffle plate in spaced relation to the upper open end of the cylinder for diverting the direction of travel of the lighter components of the material blown from the cylinder, a feed conduit extending into the cylinder through its open upper end and terminating intermediate the ends of the cylinder, and a mechanical drive in said feed conduit, which closes the cross-sectional area thereof.

2. ln combination with an apparatus for separating material having an inclined r0- tatable cylinder open at its upper end and having its lower end portion perforated and its upper end portion provided interiorly with vanes and provided with a blower for creating an air current through said cylinder in a direction opposite to the flow of the material to be treated, and including a baffle plate iii-spaced relation to the upper open end of the cylinder for diverting the direction of travel of the lighter components of the material blown from the cylinder, a feed conduit eX- tending into the cylinder through its open upper end and terminating intermediate the ends of thecylinder, and a mechanical drive in said feed conduit, which closes the crosssectional area thereof, said feed conduit being spaced from the cylinder walls so that air currents from the blower may pass therearound.

8. ln combination with an apparatus for separating material having an inclined rotatable cylinder open at its upper end and having its lower end portion perforated and its upper end portion provided interiorly with vanes and provided with a blower for creating an air current through said cylinder in a direction opposite to the flow of the material to be treated, and including a baffle plate in spaced relation to the upper open end of the cylinder for diverting the direction of travel of the lighter components of the material blown from the cylinder, a feed conduit extending into the cylinder through its open upper end and terminating intermediate the ends of the cylinder, a mechanical drive in said feed conduit, Which closes the cross-sectional area thereof, said feed conduit being spaced from the cylinder Walls so that air currents from the blower may pass therearound, and means to vary the length of the feed conduit Within the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE ROBERTSON. 

